a waif of the plains-第3章

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or　timber；　he　did　not　dream　that　this　omission　and　the　very
unobtrusiveness　of　his　hiding…place　would　be　his　salvation　from　a
greater　danger。

With　the　coming　darkness　the　wind　arose　and　swept　the　plain　with　a
long…drawn　sigh。　　This　increased　to　a　murmur；　till　presently　the
whole　expansebefore　sunk　in　awful　silenceseemed　to　awake　with
vague　complaints；　incessant　sounds；　and　low　moanings。　　At　times　he
thought　he　heard　the　halloaing　of　distant　voices；　at　times　it
seemed　as　a　whisper　in　his　own　ear。　　In　the　silence　that　followed
each　blast　he　fancied　he　could　detect　the　creaking　of　the　wagon；
the　dull　thud　of　the　oxen's　hoofs；　or　broken　fragments　of　speech；
blown　and　scattered　even　as　he　strained　his　ears　to　listen　by　the
next　gust。　　This　tension　of　the　ear　began　to　confuse　his　brain；　as
his　eyes　had　been　previously　dazzled　by　the　sunlight；　and　a　strange
torpor　began　to　steal　over　his　faculties。　　Once　or　twice　his　head
dropped。

He　awoke　with　a　start。　　A　moving　figure　had　suddenly　uplifted
itself　between　him　and　the　horizon！　　It　was　not　twenty　yards　away；
so　clearly　outlined　against　the　still　luminous　sky　that　it　seemed
even　nearer。　　A　human　figure；　but　so　disheveled；　so　fantastic；　and
yet　so　mean　and　puerile　in　its　extravagance；　that　it　seemed　the
outcome　of　a　childish　dream。　　It　was　a　mounted　figure；　but　so
ludicrously　disproportionate　to　the　pony　it　bestrode；　whose　slim
legs　were　stiffly　buried　in　the　dust　in　a　breathless　halt；　that　it
might　have　been　a　straggler　from　some　vulgar　wandering　circus。　　A
tall　hat；　crownless　and　rimless；　a　castaway　of　civilization；
surmounted　by　a　turkey's　feather；　was　on　its　head；　over　its
shoulders　hung　a　dirty　tattered　blanket　that　scarcely　covered　the
two　painted　legs　which　seemed　clothed　in　soiled　yellow　hose。　　In
one　hand　it　held　a　gun；　the　other　was　bent　above　its　eyes　in　eager
scrutiny　of　some　distant　point　beyond　and　east　of　the　spot　where
the　children　lay　concealed。　　Presently；　with　a　dozen　quick
noiseless　strides　of　the　pony's　legs；　the　apparition　moved　to　the
right；　its　gaze　still　fixed　on　that　mysterious　part　of　the　horizon。
There　was　no　mistaking　it　now！　　The　painted　Hebraic　face；　the　large
curved　nose；　the　bony　cheek；　the　broad　mouth；　the　shadowed　eyes；
the　straight　long　matted　locks！　　It　was　an　Indian！　　Not　the
picturesque　creature　of　Clarence's　imagination；　but　still　an
Indian！　　The　boy　was　uneasy；　suspicious；　antagonistic；　but　not
afraid。　　He　looked　at　the　heavy　animal　face　with　the　superiority　of
intelligence；　at　the　half…naked　figure　with　the　conscious　supremacy
of　dress；　at　the　lower　individuality　with　the　contempt　of　a　higher
race。　　Yet　a　moment　after；　when　the　figure　wheeled　and　disappeared
towards　the　undulating　west；　a　strange　chill　crept　over　him。　　Yet
he　did　not　know　that　in　this　puerile　phantom　and　painted　pigmy　the
awful　majesty　of　Death　had　passed　him　by。

〃Mamma！〃

It　was　Susy's　voice；　struggling　into　consciousness。　　Perhaps　she
had　been　instinctively　conscious　of　the　boy's　sudden　fears。

〃Hush！〃

He　had　just　turned　to　the　objective　point　of　the　Indian's　gaze。
There　WAS　something！　　A　dark　line　was　moving　along　with　the
gathering　darkness。　　For　a　moment　he　hardly　dared　to　voice　his
thoughts　even　to　himself。　　It　was　a　following　train　overtaking　them
from　the　rear！　　And　from　the　rapidity　of　its　movements　a　train　with
horses；　hurrying　forward　to　evening　camp。　　He　had　never　dreamt　of
help　from　that　quarter。　　This　was　what　the　Indian's　keen　eyes　had
been　watching；　and　why　he　had　so　precipitately　fled。

The　strange　train　was　now　coming　up　at　a　round　trot。　　It　was
evidently　well　appointed　with　five　or　six　large　wagons　and　several
outriders。　　In　half　an　hour　it　would　be　here。　　Yet　he　refrained
from　waking　Susy；　who　had　fallen　asleep　again；　his　old　superstition
of　securing　her　safety　first　being　still　uppermost。　　He　took　off
his　jacket　to　cover　her　shoulders；　and　rearranged　her　nest。　　Then
he　glanced　again　at　the　coming　train。　　But　for　some　unaccountable
reason　it　had　changed　its　direction；　and　instead　of　following　the
track　that　should　have　brought　it　to　his　side　it　had　turned　off　to
the　left！　　In　ten　minutes　it　would　pass　abreast　of　him　a　mile　and　a
half　away！　　If　he　woke　Susy　now；　he　knew　she　would　be　helpless　in
her　terror；　and　he　could　not　carry　her　half　that　distance。　　He
might　rush　to　the　train　himself　and　return　with　help；　but　he　would
never　leave　her　alonein　the　darkness。　　Never！　　If　she　woke　she
would　die　of　fright；　perhaps；　or　wander　blindly　and　aimlessly　away。
No！　　The　train　would　pass　and　with　it　that　hope　of　rescue。
Something　was　in　his　throat；　but　he　gulped　it　down　and　was　quiet
again　albeit　he　shivered　in　the　night　wind。

The　train　was　nearly　abreast　of　him　now。　　He　ran　out　of　the　tall
grass；　waving　his　straw　hat　above　his　head　in　the　faint　hope　of
attracting　attention。　　But　he　did　not　go　far；　for　he　found　to　his
alarm　that　when　he　turned　back　again　the　clump　of　mesquite　was
scarcely　distinguishable　from　the　rest　of　the　plain。　　This　settled
all　question　of　his　going。　　Even　if　he　reached　the　train　and
returned　with　some　one；　how　would　he　ever　find　her　again　in　this
desolate　expanse？

He　watched　the　train　slowly　passstill　mechanically；　almost
hopelessly；　waving　his　hat　as　he　ran　up　and　down　before　the
mesquite；　as　if　he　were　waving　a　last　farewell　to　his　departing
hope。　　Suddenly　it　appeared　to　him　that　three　of　the　outriders　who
were　preceding　the　first　wagon　had　changed　their　shape。　　They　were
no　longer　sharp；　oblong；　black　blocks　against　the　horizon　but　had
become　at　first　blurred　and　indistinct；　then　taller　and　narrower；
until　at　last　they　stood　out　like　exclamation　points　against　the
sky。　　He　continued　to　wave　his　hat；　they　continued　to　grow　taller
and　narrower。　　He　understood　it　nowthe　three　transformed　blocks
were　the　outriders　coming　towards　him。

This　is　what　he　had　seen

＇Drawing　of　three　black　blocks＇

This　is　what　he　saw　now

！　　！　　！

He　ran　back　to　Susy　to　see　if　she　still　slept；　for　his　foolish
desire　to　have　her　saved　unconsciously　was　stronger　than　ever　now
that　safety　seemed　so　near。　　She　was　still　sleeping；　although　she
had　moved　slightly。　　He　ran　to　the　front　again。

The　outriders　had　apparently　halted。　　What　were　they　doing？　　Why
wouldn't　they　come　on？

Suddenly　a　blinding　flash　of　light　seemed　to　burst　from　one　of
them。　　Away　over　his　head　something　whistled　like　a　rushing　bird；
and　sped　off　invisible。　　They　had　fired　a　gun；　they　were　signaling
to　himClarencelike　a　grown…up　man。　　He　would　have　given　his
life　at　that　moment　to　have　had　a　gun。　　But　he　could　only　wave　his
hat　frantically。

One　of　the　figures　here　bore　away　and　impetuously　darted　forward
again。　　He　was　coming　nearer；　powerful；　gigantic；　formidable；　as　he
loomed　through　the　darkness。　　All　at　once　he　threw　up　his　arm　with
a　wild　gesture　to　the　others；　and　his　voice；　manly；　frank；　and
assuring；　came　ringing　before　him。

〃Hold　up！　　Good　God！　　It's　no　Injunit's　a　child！〃

In　another　moment　he　had　reined　up　beside　Clarence　and　leaned　over
him；　bearded；　handsome；　powerful　and　protecting。

〃Hallo！　　What's　all　this？　　What　are　you　doing　here？〃

〃Lost　from　Mr。　Silsbee's　train；〃　said　Clarence；　pointing　to　the
darkened　west。

〃Lost？how　long？〃

〃About　three　hours。　　I　thought　they'd　come　back　for　us；〃　said
Clarence　apologetically　to　this　big；　kindly　man。

〃And　you　kalkilated　to　wait　here　for　'em？〃

〃Yes；　yesI　didtill　I　saw　you。〃

〃Then　why　in　thunder　didn't　you　light　out　straight　for　us；　instead
of　hanging　round　here　and　drawing　us　out？〃

The　boy　hung　his　head。　　He　knew　his　reasons　were　unchanged；　but　all
at　once　they　seemed　very　foolish　and　unmanly　to　speak　out。

〃Only　that　we　were　on　the　keen　jump　for　Injins；〃　continued　the
stranger；　〃we　wouldn't　have　seen　you　at　all；　and　might　hev　shot　you
when　we　did。　　What　possessed　you　to　stay　here？〃

The　boy　was　still　silent。　　〃Kla'uns；〃　said　a　faint；　sleepy　voice
from　the　mesquite；　〃take　me。〃　　The　rifle…shot　had　awakened　Susy。

The　stranger　turned　quickly　towards　the　sound。　　Clarence　started
and　recalled　himself。　　〃There；〃　he　said　bitterly；　〃you've　done　it
now；　you've　wakened　her！　　THAT'S　why　I　stayed。　　I　couldn't　carry
her　over　there　to　you。　　I　couldn't　let　her　walk；　for　she'd　be
frightened。　　I　wouldn't　wake　her　up；　for　she'd　be　frightened；　and　I
mightn't　find　her　again。　　There！〃　　He　had　made　up　his　mind　to　be
abused；　but　he　was　reckless　now　that　she　was　safe。

The　men　glanced　at　each　other。　　〃Then；〃　said　the　spokesman　quietly；
〃you　didn't　strike　out　for　us　on　account　of　your　sister？〃

〃She　ain't　my　sister；〃　said　Clarence　quickly。　　〃She's　a　little
girl。　　She's　Mrs。　Silsbee's　little　girl。　　We　were　in　the　wagon　and
got　down。　　It's　my　fault。　　I　helped　her　down。〃

The　three　men　reined　their　horses　closely　round　him；　leaning
forward　from　their　saddles；　with　their　hands　on　their　knees　and
their　heads　on　one　side。　　〃Then；〃　said　the　spokesman　gravely；　〃you
just　reckoned　to　stay　here；　old　man；　and　take　your　chances　with　her
rather　than　run　the　risk　of　frightening　or　leaving　herthough　it
was　your　one　chance　of　life！〃

〃Yes；〃　said　the　boy；　scornful　of　this　feeble；　grown…up　repetition。

〃Come　here。〃

The　boy　came　doggedly　forward。　　The　man　pushed　back　the　well…worn
straw　hat　from　Clarence's　forehead　and　looked　into　his　lowering
face。　　With　his　hand　still　on　the　boy's　head　he　turned　him　round　to
the　others；　and　said　quietly；

〃Suthin　of　a　pup；　eh？〃

〃You　bet；〃　they　responded。

The　voice　was　not　unkindly；　although　the　speaker　had　thrown　his
lower　jaw　forward　as　if　to　pronounce　the　word　〃pup〃　with　a　humorous
suggestion　of　a　mastiff。　　Before　Clarence　could　make　up　his　mind　if
the　epithet　was　insulting　or　not；　the　man　put　out　his　stirruped
foot；　and；　with　a　gesture　of　invitation；　said；　〃Jump　up。〃

〃But　Susy；〃　said　Clarence；　drawing　back。

〃Look；　she's　making　up　to　Phil　already。〃

Clarence　looked。　　Susy　had　crawled　out　of　the　mesquite；　and　with
her　sun…bonnet　hanging　down　her　back；　her　curls　tossed　around　her
face；　still　flushed　with　sleep；　and　Clarence's　jacket　over　her
shoulders；　was　gazing　up　with　grave　satisfaction　in　the　laughing
eyes　of　one　of　the　men　who　was　with　outstretched　hands　bending　over
her。　　Could　he　believe　his　senses？　　The　terror…stricken；　willful；
unmanageable　Susy；　whom　he　would　have　translated　unconsciously　to
safety　without　this　terrible　ordeal　of　being　awakened　to　the　loss
of　her　home　and　parents　at　any　sacrifice　to　himselfthis　ingenuous
infant　was　absolutely　throwing　herself　with　every　appearance　of
forgetfulness　into　the　arms　of　the　first　new…comer！　　Yet　his
perception　of　this　fact　was　accompanied　by　no　sense　of　ingratitude。
For　her　sake　he　felt　relieved；　and　with　a　boyish　smile　of
satisfaction　and　encouragement　vaulted　into　the　saddle　before　the
stranger。


CHAPTER　IV


The　dash　forward　to　the　train；　securely　held　in　the　saddle　by　the
arms　of　their　deliverers；　was　a　secret　joy　to　the　children　that
seemed　only　too　quickly　over。　　The　resistless　gallop　of　the　fiery
mustangs；　the　rush　of　the　night　wind；　the　gathering　darkness　in
which　the　distant　wagons；　now　halted　and　facing　them；　looked　like
domed　huts　in　the　horizonall　these　seemed　bu